Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the generation that was first empowered by Tertiary Scholarships and Loan Service is now leading in Fiji’s workforce with more than $1.4 billion in investment by the Fijian Government.
Speaking during the opening of the new headquarters of TSLS and launching of key TSLS ICT initiatives at Garden City in Raiwai, Bainimarama says when they first introduced the TELS program, it was a promise to every Fijian as higher education was open to everyone.
He says it is no accident that in the years following its introduction, Fiji established historic economic growth.
Bainimarama says this week, Fiji’s growth rate for this year was updated to 15.6 percent which is the highest rate in Fijian history and this was no accident either.
He adds our state of recovery is only possible because the workforce is most educated and capable than it has ever been.
The Prime Minister says it has made Fiji more resilient, and more capable of navigating the challenges of this century and has created a sustainable and disciplined pathway to a knowledge based society.
Bainimarama says they are making strides to make diploma offerings innovative to keep students at pace with a changing society.
He says the current financial year, they have funded 20 new scholarships for Masters studies, 10 for PhDs and 400 new allocations for study loans to upgrade to degree and postgraduate studies.
He further says in recognition of the need for skilled workers, they have made 200 new allocations for skill qualifications such as carpentry, fabrication and welding, joinery and cabinet making, plumping and sheet-metal construction and tile laying, 100 new applications for skills qualification for other providers such as CATD in Nadave and Monfort Boys and 200 new allocations for study grants for construction related skill sets.
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